Popular Endangered Species Ringtones Achieve
100,000 Downloads in 150 Countries; New Site Design Launches Today

TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity is celebrating the 100,000th free download from its endangered species ringtone Web site, www.rareearthtones.org. In keeping with its rising popularity, the site has received a complete makeover.

The Center’s rareearthtones.org site allows users to listen to wildlife ringtones, send them directly to their phones with a simple click, and download photos, cell phone wallpapers, and facts for each of the featured wildlife species. The ringtones continue to be free and cutting edge while the site’s new look and straightforward navigation make it easier than ever to download the roars, trills, and squawks of some of the world’s most endangered species. Through the Web site, users can also take action to save endangered species worldwide.

“Our endangered species ringtones have become a great way for people to personalize their cell phones and make a statement about the importance of protecting endangered species,” said Peter Galvin, conservation director with the Center for Biological Diversity.

The site’s ringtones feature the sounds of 70 rare and endangered animals from around the world, including the polar bear, blue-throated macaw, northern goshawk, California red-legged frog, and American pika, with the tones of the killer whale and Mexican gray wolf being the two most popular to date. The ringtones have gained worldwide appeal in 150 countries, with the United States ranking number one in total ringtone downloads. Other top-ranking countries — listed in order from most to least downloads — include Iran, Italy, Canada, Great Britain, India, Brazil, Australia, and China.

The Center’s endangered species ringtones have certainly captured people’s attention: they have been written about and featured by numerous media outlets including CNN, ABC News, National Public Radio, Fox News, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Cellular News, PC World, Wireless Week, and Trends magazine.

This week marks the one-year anniversary of the Center’s ringtones educational campaign, and the organization plans to release an assortment of new rare and endangered species ringtones each month throughout 2008. Check www.rareearthtones.org often for new ringtone updates.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, science-based nonprofit organization that works to protect endangered species and wild places throughout the world. The Center has more than 40,000 members and ten offices throughout the U.S., with headquarters in Tucson, Arizona.